Latch mechanism



April 9, 146, F. M. UDALL.

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 15,- 1944 Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE LATCH MECHANISM Frederick M. Udall, New York, N. Y.

Application November 15, 1944, Serial No. 563,496

3 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to devices of the cabinet type.

The main object is to provide a simple, inexpensive but reliable device.

Tov carry out the invention, I employ a base plate to which is attached a cover thus forming a housing for a sliding spring pressed latch bolt and a pivoted rocker. The rocker is geared to the bolt and is pivoted to a bracket which is integral with the base plate and has an arm which projects from the housing. An actuating handle lever is hinged to this bracket and engages the arm of the rocker by means of which the latch bolt may be actuated.

Fig. 1 is a plan View of one form of device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2` is a side View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View of the same, taken on the plane of the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the base plate and the parts integral therewith.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the housing.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. v

The housing is formed of a base plate I and a cover 2. The latter has lugs 2 secured in slots I in the base plate. The latch bolt 3 is guided between lugs I on the base plate, and one of the side walls of the cover. The .bolt has a groove 13 for the spring `Il which presses it outwardly. The bracket 5 may also assist in guiding the bolt which extends through the slot yI5 in the cover.

The rocker 1 is supported on a pivot 8 between the arms of the bracket 5 and has teeth 'I' which are geared in recesses 3" in the bolt. The rocker also has an arm 1" which projects through the slot 9 in the cover.

The handle lever I is hinged at II on the upright I2 of the bracket =5 and has a hole I0' for the arm l" so that by raising the lever handle the rocker may .be turned on its axis and thus retract the latch bolt. To limit the retraction the lever I0 may have a lug I3 to engage some part of the housing and stop it.

The base plate preferably has the lugs I" and the bracket integral with it. The cover may be formed by folding or drawing it from sheet metal. The design of the housing and handle may be varied as desired.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a simple, cheap and compact construction. The particular construction shown makes it possible to obtain maximum strength with minimum material. The device is further characterized by fewness of parts and ease of assembly.

Changes in details might be made without def partingfrom the scope of the invention and I desire to be limited only by the state of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Latch mechanism comprisingV a base plate, a housing secured thereto, alatch bolt slidably mounted between integral parts of the base `plate and housing, a bracket integral with and projecting from the base plate, a rocker` pivotedto said bracket and having teeth operatively geared to saidlatch bolt and having an arm projecting from said housing and an operating handle lever pivoted to said bracket and engaging the arm bracket and having teeth operatively geared to said latch bolt and having an arm projecting from said housing and an operating handle lever pivoted to said bracket and engaging the arm of said rocker.

3. Latch mechanism comprising a base plate, a housing secured thereto, said housing having a slot in one wall thereof, a latch bolt slidably mounted on said plate, said bolt having a nose portion normally protruding outside of the housing, a groove extending longitudinally and inwardly from said nose portion and spaced recesses, a helical spring in said' groove having one end impinging against the `nose portion and the other end against the housing for urging said bolt outwardly, an integral bracket on said plate disposed above said bolt, a rocker pivoted to said bracket above and in alignment with said bolt and having teeth adapted to engage in said recesses for moving thebolt, an integral arm on said rocker projecting through and guided by said housing slot, a lever pivoted to said bracket and engaging the arm of said rocker for actuating the same and outstruck lugs on the plate coacting with said housing for guiding the movement of said bolt. Y

FREDERICK M. UDALL. 

